Zelenskyy says he had 'productive' call with Trump ahead of ceasefire deadline
KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday (Aug 5) that he had a "productive" conversation with US President Donald Trump on ending the war, sanctions on Russia, and finalising a US-Ukraine drone deal.
"President Trump is fully informed about Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities and communities," Zelenskyy wrote on X, referring to intensifying drone and missile attacks.
Trump, who has signalled frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent weeks, has given the Kremlin leader until Thursday (Aug 8) to make peace in Ukraine or face tougher sanctions.
A source in Washington said US envoy Steve Witkoff would be meeting the Russian leadership in Moscow on Wednesday.
CEASEFIRE EFFORTS AND DRONE DEAL
Speaking in his nightly video address, Zelenskyy said Trump "knows the situation along the front line," which stretches 1,000km through eastern and southern Ukraine.
Ukraine, he said, had long supported US proposals for an immediate ceasefire and had proposed multiple formats to halt the fighting.
"We have spoken with and proposed to Russia quiet in the skies, no missile and drone attacks and specifically no attacks on civilian infrastructure or on the energy sector," Zelenskyy said.
"All of this has been violated by the Russians and in a very cynical fashion."
Trump has threatened to impose new sanctions and levy 100 per cent tariffs on countries that purchase Russian oil. However, sources close to the Kremlin told Reuters that Putin is unlikely to yield to the ultimatum.
Zelenskyy also said Ukraine was ready to conclude a deal with the United States on the purchase of Ukrainian-made drones. The deal, previously valued at around US$30 billion, would be "one of the strongest agreements," he said.
Ukraine is increasingly relying on foreign investment to bolster its domestic arms industry. Zelenskyy added that Kyiv's European partners had already pledged to buy over US$1 billion worth of American weapons for Ukraine under a new procurement scheme.
